A Necessary Investment
Sila Sanon Quarry adopts Sandvik mobile solutions to satisfy growing demand for aggregates in Thailand
Sila Sanon limestone quarry is currently playing a key role in providing high-quality aggregates for the growing Thai construction industry. In order to meet demand, the family-owned operation has recently invested in a full range of crushing and screening plant supplied by Sandvik Construction’s dealer in Thailand, the William Wong Group. Through the use of this new equipment, the quarry is now able to supply more than 200,000 tonnes of accurately sized materials on a monthly basis.
Situated around 100km north of Bangkok, Sila Sanon Quarry is located in Thailand’s Saraburi province. Operational for almost 30 years, the site was established in 1983 by the father and grandfather of current owners Chayuth and Bhisanu Busitarnuntakul. The family now own and manage some of the biggest quarry operations in Saraburi province, with Sila Sanon being one of 12 quarries in the area.
However, it was Sila Sanon Quarry that was identified as requiring investment in order to take full advantage of the limestone deposits found at the site. The materials present are required by the burgeoning Thai construction and minerals industries, which have a large and growing need for high-grade limestone. To this end, Chayuth and Bhisanu Busitarnuntakul realized that if they were to satisfy market demand for high-quality, accurately sized products, they needed to invest in modern, highly productive crushing and screening systems.
The father and son Busitarnuntakul team realized that an investment of the magnitude required would necessitate taking expert advice from crushing and screening professionals who would be able to offer first-class guidance regarding the latest developments in technology. They had no hesitation in contacting the William Wong Group, who not only possess an excellent reputation for service and aftermarket care, but are also, as Sandvik Construction’s dealer in Thailand, able to draw upon Sandvik’s extensive minerals processing experience and know-how.
Having discussed their options with both William Wong Group and Sandvik specialists, Chayuth and Bhisanu Busitarnuntakul realized that, in order to maximize production within Sila Sanon Quarry, a combination of stationary as well as mobile crushing and screening equipment would be required. The Sandvik equipment selected to suit their specific requirements comprised: a CH440 stationary cone crusher; a QI340 tracked HS impact crusher with recirculating conveyor; a QI340 tracked impact crusher; a QE440 tracked scalping screen; and a QA450 tracked four-way-split triple-deck screening system.
The –500mm material produced by the CH440 stationary cone crusher is fed to the two state-of-the-art QI340 tracked impactors, which are the main key to the productivity of the quarry. These two machines, which offer mobility, productivity, transportability, minimal environmental impact and user-friendliness, process the –500mm material at a rate of 200–300 tonnes/h to produce three grades: 0–7mm aggregate; 7–23mm aggregate; and 50–100mm for industrial use.
Key features of the Sandvik QI340 include: an excellent reduction ratio across a broad product spectrum; a variable-speed primary pan feeder for controlled and continuous feed; a material feed integrated with engine loading for maximum control; an independent grizzly and under-pan feeder; an optional double-deck–double-screen recirculation conveyor (fitted to one of Sila Sanon’s QI340 units); global aftermarket support with standard stock parts to ensure minimum loss of production; and optimum fuel economy and low operating costs.
Although the QI340 tracked impactors are capable of producing well-shaped and accurately sized products on their own, Sandvik screening and scalping systems further grade the limestone products based on the specific requirements of the customer. This is particularly pertinent as the limestone from Sila Sanon Quarry is used in a variety of construction applications ranging from ready-mixed concrete plants and road contracting to generic construction, as well as being supplied to the industrial/chemical manufacturing industries for use as quick lime. Being able to offer their customers a flexible and highly productive service has been an essential component of the success of the Sila Sanon quarrying operation, as illustrated by the fact that one of their major customers is Siam Cement Group (SCG) – the largest ready-mixed concrete supplier in Thailand.
Sila Sanon Quarry now produces more than 200,000 tonnes of various-sized products each month, with approximately 80,000 tonnes coming from the mobile plant alone. Owing to the success of the new Sandvik mobile crushing and screening operation, plans are now in place for more than 50% of the materials produced on a monthly basis to be derived from mobile crushing plant. According to Sila Sanon, this is due to the inherent flexibility of the mobile systems, which are able to go exactly where they are required (the Sila Sanon quarry face is now 2km from its initial location in 1983) and feed directly to transportation systems, while still delivering high-quality products at high rates of production.
